Machine for forming windowed cartons



Oct i6, 1956 J. G. VERGOBBI MACHINE FOR FORMING WINDOWED cARToNs FiledNov. l5. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY,

Oct. i6, 1956 J. G, VERGOBBI MACHINE FOR FORMING wINDowED cARToNs FiledNov. 15, 1952 l ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1956 .1. G. VERGOBBI MACHINE FORFem/11N@ -wINDowED cARToNs 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. JJM 6%:

Filed NOV. l5l 1952 MACHINE FOR FORMING WINDGWED CARTONS John G.Vergobbi, Quincy, Mass., assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,Limited, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationNovember 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,761

1 Claim. (Cl. 93-36) This invention relates to a machine for formingwindowed cartons.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machinefor forming windowed cartons in a novel, simple, economical andefiicient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel machine formanufacturing windowed cartons wherein provision is made for applyingthe transparent windowforming material over a precut opening in a atcarton blank in a simple, economical and efficient manner and forsubsequently forming the carton from such blank.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the carton-forming machine and in thevarious structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claim at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the present carton-forming machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a carton blank having a window opening therein;

Fig. 3 is la perspective View of the adhesive-applying member forapplying a band of adhesive about the window opening;

Fig. 4 isa plan View of the machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the feed mechanism for thetransparent sheet material;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of a portion of the drivingmechanism;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in side elevation of the sheetcutting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the carton-forming block and associated foldingmechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the formed carton showing the windowpanel.

In general, the present invention contemplates a machine for makingwindowed cartons wherein successive carton blanks, each having a precutwindow opening formed therein, are conveyed into the machine, andprovision is made for securing a sheet of transparent windowformingmaterial over the precut opening to form the window. Preferably, thewindow-forming material is adhesively secured to the body of the cartonduring the continuance of advance of the carton blank, and after theapplication of the window the carton blank may and preferably will befolded about a for-ming block, and the remaining operations of bottomsealing and sealing the side seams of the cartons may be performed inknown forms of carton-forming machines, preferably of the general typehaving a plurality of radially extended forming blocks mounted to beintermittently rotated to present the forming blocks successively to thevarious carton-forming stations of the machine. In operation, aprescored carton blank is presented under one of the horizontallyextended forming blocks, and then elevated and folded about the block,the longitudinal edges of the folded blank ICC being adhesively securedto form the side seam. At a succeeding station, the extended bottomllaps are folded over the end of the forming block and adhesivelysecured. to each other to form the bottom of the carton, and at asubsequent station the carton is stripped from the forming block readyto be filled and the top flaps thereof closed and sealed.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents the radially extendedforming blocks secured to a flange 12- mounted on and rotatedintermittently with a central shaft 14 of the carton-forming machine forforming the carton from a at carton blank to present the forming blocksto successive stations of the machine. Inasmuch as machines of this typewhich 'are provided with mechanisms for folding the carton blank aboutthe forming block are well known in the packaging trade, only sufficientportions of the machine have been herein illustrated and will behereinafter described as will enable the present invention to beunderstood, reference being made to the United States patent toVergobbi, No. 2,364,406.

In general, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, thecarton-forming blanks 15, herein shown as comprising flat prescoredblanks having precut window openings 17 formed therein, are arranged tobe withdrawn from a stack 16 stored in a magazine 18 and transferred toa conveyor 20 to be conveyed into operative relation toadhesive-applying mechanism, indicated generally at 22, for applying aband of adhesive 10S about the marginal edges of the precut opening 17in the carton blank. At a succeeding station of operation, indicatedgenerally at Z4, the carton blank is provided with a sheet oftransparent material 25 which is applied over the opening and againstthe band of adhesive 108 to secure the transparent material to thecarton blank. Thereafter, the continuously advanced carton blank isbrought into operative relation to an adhesive-applying station,indicated generally at 26, for applying a longitudinal strip of adhesive2S to enable the Side seam to be subsequently formed, and transversestrips of adhesive 30, 32 to selected bottom aps to enable the bottom ofthe carton to be subsequently sealed.

As herein shown, the uppermost carton blank 15 in the stack 16 isinserted between feed rolls 34, 36 by suction transfer means 38 arrangedto lift the uppermost blank upwardly and forwardly to present theleading edge of the blank between the feed rollers. The suction transfermechanism 38 may be of a known type, herein shown as including aplurality of suction cups 39 carried by a hollow to effect the transferoperation.

elevating mechanism, generally indicated at 45, and which operates toelevate the stack periodically to compensate for the withdrawn blanks.

The conveyer 2t! may comprise a pair of spaced endless chains 46arranged to run over sprockets 48, 50 mounted on shafts 52, 54 at thereceiving and delivery ends respectively of the conveyer, around idlerlsprockets 56, and around drive sprockets 58 fast on a cross shaft 60.The shaft 60 m-ay be driven from a drive shaft 62 of the carton-formingmachine which is connected by bevel gears 64, 66 to a longitudinal shaft68. The shaft 65 is connected by bevel gears 70, 72 (see Fig. 6) to across shaft 74 which in turn is connected by a chain and sprocket drive76 to the shaft 6ft. As herein shown, the chains 46 are provided with aplurality of equally spaced fingers 7S for engaging the rear edges ofsucces. sive carton blanks 15 transferred thereto, and the feedi,

rolls 34, 36 are arranged to effect advance of the blank at a relativelyfaster rate of speed than the speed of the conveyer in order to permitengagement of the rear edge of the blank by the next succeeding pair offingers 78 as the chains 46 travel around the sprockets 48V at thereceiving end of the machine. As illustrated in Fig. l, the lower feedroll 36 mounted on the shaft 52 may be driven from the cross shaft 60 bya chain and sprocket drive 80. ri`he upper roll 34 comprises an idlerroll carried between arms 82 fast on a rocker shaft 84 and is arrangedto be rocked upwardly each cycle of operation to permit entrance of theleading edge of the blank presented thereto by the transfer mechanism,and to be rocked down into cooperative engagement with the driven roller36 toeffect advance of the blank into operative position to be engagedby the lingers 78 of the chains. As herein shown, the rocker shaft S4 isprovided with an arm 86 fast thereon connected by a link 88 to an arm 90fast on a shaft 92 supported in a bracket 94 attached to the machineframe. The shaft 92 is provided with an arm 96 having a cam roll forcooperation with a cam 98 fast on a driven shaft 100, which may comprisethe adhesive-applying member shaft, to be described. The arm 86 may beprovided with a handle portion 102 to permit manual rocking of the idlerroll 34.

The adhesiveapplying mechanism 22 for applying adhesive about themarginal edges of the precut opening 17 in the carton blank comprises anadhesive-applying member 104 having peripheral surfaces 106 shaped asillustrated in detail in Fig. 3 to apply a band of adhesive 108 aroundthe rectangular opening as indicated in Fig. 2.

As herein shown, adhesive may be supplied to the member 104 by atransfer roller 110 engaged with a supply roller 112 rotatably mountedin an adhesive tank 114. to which adhesive may be supplied by a pipe116, the surplus adhesive being received by a drain pipe 118 to bereturned to a supply tank 120 and recireulated in a known manner.

The adhesive-applying member 104 is fast on the shaft 100 rotatablymounted in 4the bracket 94 attached to the machine frame, and inpractice the member 104 may be of a radius such as to have a surfacespeed slightly greater than the linear speed of the conveyer 20 in orderthat the blank may be pulled forward a slight distance from the pusherfingers 78Vof the conveyer chains whereby to prevent jamming or bucklingof the blank between the applying member and the fingers when the blankis engaged by the applying member. As herein shown, theadhesive-applying member shaft 100 may be driven from the cross shaft 74through bevel gears 124, 126 connecting the cross shaft 74 to a verticalshaft 128 and through bevel gears 130, 132 connecting the vertical shaftto the adhesive-applying member shaft. ln operation, the adhesivepattern is applied about the precut opening during the continuousadvance of the blank on the conveyer 20 and as the blank passes betweenthe rotary applying member 104 and a backing roller 134 rotatablymounted in the bracket 94.

The continuously moving carton blank is then advanced into operativerelation to station 24 where a sheet of transparent material is placedover the precu-t opening in the blank and secured thereto by themarginal band of adhesive previously applied. As herein shown, a supplyroll 136 of the transparent material is supported in the bracket 94 andis arranged to be withdrawn from the supply roll by driven feed rolls138, 140 arranged to intermittently advance a length of the material topresent the leading edge thereof into engagement with the adhesivelycoated portion of the carton blank, and between upper and lower presserrolls 142, 144 arranged to press the web against the adhesively coatedportion of the carton. Atrthe end of the intermittent feeding operationand simultaneously with the arrival of the leading edge of the web intoengagement with'the carton blank, the webis severed by a cutter 146,Vand during the-continued advance of the cartonx blank between thepresser rolls 142, 144 the severed length of the web is pressed againstthe blank over the opening therein to secure the severed sheet to theadhesively coated portion 108 about the opening.

The feed rolls 138, 1411 may be mounted on shafts 148, respectively Yandare arranged to be intermittently rotated: bymechanism including apinion 152 loosely mounted ori-the shaft 148 and an elongated rackmember 154 meshing with thepinion and arranged to be reciprocatcd by acam 156 fast on the shaft 74. As herein shown, the rack member isprovided with a forked portion 15S arranged toembraceV the shaft74, and`a cam roll 160 carried by theA` forked portion is arranged to cooperatewith the cam 156. The loosely mounted pinion 152 is provided with a pawl162 arranged to engage a ratchet 164 fast on the shaft 148 to effectrotation of the feed rolls in one direction only, thepawl slipping onthe ratchet during the retracting stroke of the rack. The rollers 138,140. may be connected to rotate together by intermeshing gears 166. Inoperation, the web is guided around the lower feed roll 140 by a guideroll and then extends downwardly across the cutter plate 172 and intoengagement with the carton blank.

The movable cutter member 146 is carried by a lever 176 pivotallymounted on a shaft 178 and is arranged to be rocked toV effect thecutting operation at the end of the intermittent advance of the web by acam 180 fast on the shaft 74 and through linkage includinga cam roller182 carried by a lever 184 pivotally mounted on a shaft 186, the lever184. being connected by a link 18S to the lever 176.'. The presser rolls142, 144 may be connected by intermeshing gears 192 andmay be drivenfrom a shaft 196 by a chain and sprocket drive 198, the shaft 196forming a part of the second adhesiveappiying station 26.

The second adhesive-applying station 26 is provided with applyingmembers 200, 201 and 203 fast on the shaft 196 and are provided withperipheral surfaces-shaped to apply the adhesive strip 28 along amarginal edge of the blank for the side seam of the carton, and adhesivecoatings 30, 32 to the carton flaps for forming the bottom seal, theapplying members cooperating with a backing roller 202. The secondadhesive-applying mechanism may be similar to that previously describedwherein the applying members cooperate with a transfer roll 204 'and asupply roll 206 rotatably mounted in a pan 208. The rolls 204, 206 maybe supplied with adhesive by a pipe 210, the surplus being returned tothe supply through a drain pipe 212 to be again recirculated. The shafty196 may be driven from the longitudinal shaft 68 through pairs of bevelgears 214, 216 to a vertical shaft 218, the latter being connected tothe shaft 196 by bevel gears in a manner similar to that shown in Fig.6. In practice, the applying members 200, 201, 203 may have a surfacespeed such'as to advance the blankfslightly on the conveyer during theapplying'operation to prevent buckling of the blank by the pusherfingers 78, as described. with relation to the first adhesive-applyingmechanism.

During the continued advance of the carton blankalong the conveyer 20,the ,leading edge of the blank is gripped between discharge rollers 224,226 arranged to transfer the blankfromthe, conveyer 20 onto theelevating platform 228 of the folding mechanism in its lowered posi.tion beneath the forming block 10. The upper roller 224 may be supportedin a slot formed in a bracket 232 for frictional engagement with the topof the blank. The lower roller 226 may be driven by a chain and sprocketdrive 230 from the shaft 196 at a relatively faster rate ofr speed thanthe speed of the conveyer 20 in order to deposit the carton blank ontothe elevating platform in timed relation Yto the Varrival of anintermittently operatedforming block 10 into operative relation-to thefoldingY mechanism;

When the blank thus advanced passes beyond the feed rolls 224, 226,provision is made for further advancing the blank along the elevatingplatform 228 to present the leading edge of the blank against stopmembers 229 carried by the platform whereby to dispose the blank inregistered relation to be folded about the forming block 10. As hereinillustrated, the blank may be thus advanced by cam-operated pusherfingers 233 fast on a rocker shaft 234 arranged to be rocked to causethe fingers to engage the rear edge of the blank and push the blankforward against the stop. The rocker shaft 234 is provided with an arm236 connected by a link 238 to one arm 240 of a bell crank pivotallymounted at 242, the second arm 243 of the bell crank being provided witha cam roll 244 for cooperation with a cam 246 fast on the main cam shaft62.

The mechanism for folding the carton blank about the forming block toform a rectangular carton may comprise the folding mechanism illustratedand described in the United States patent to Vergobbi, No. 2,533,642,and includes the elevating platform 228 and vertically reciprocal sideplates 248, 250 arranged to be elevated simultaneously for a shortdistance until the elevating platform engages the bottom of the blocklifting the blank up against the underside of the block. In operation,the side folder blades 248, 250 continue upwardly to fold the sideportions of the carton blank against the sides of the block. The sideportions of the blank extended beyond the top of the block are thenfolded over into overlapping relation against the upper surface of theblock by a pair of curved and rockingly mounted folder plates 252, 254.When the curved folder plates are retracted, a top presser member 256may be lowered into engagement With the overlapped seam to set theadhesive, thus forming a tubular carton about the block. Thereafter, theelevating platform 228 and the side folder blades 248, 250 areretracted, and the forming block is intermittently moved to a succeedingstation of operation (not shown) where the extended bottom flaps of thecarton are folded over and adhesively secured to form the bottom of thecarton in the usual manner, and the carton may then be stripped from theblock ready to be lled and the top aps closed and sealed.

From the above description it will be observed that the illustratedmachine embodies novel mechanism for applying a transparent window panelover a precut window opening formed in a carton blank during thecontinuous advance 4of the blank into operative relation to one of theforming blocks of the usual carton-forming machines ready to be foldedabout the carton-forming block whereby to produce window-panel cartonsin an economical, rapid, ecient and superior manner.

In its broader aspects the transparent window-forming material may besecured to the carton blank in any de sired manner.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a machine for forming windowed carton blanks, a conveyor forcontinuously advancing carton blanks having precut window openings, saidconveyor including spaced :lingers for engaging and advancing successivecarton blanks, adhesive applying means including an adhesive applyingmember comprising a rotary segment having a radially extended portionshaped at its outer periphery to form a pad for applying adhesive aboutthe marginal edges of the precut openings in said blanks, means forsimultaneously driving said conveyor and said rotary segment in timedrelation, said driving means being arranged to drive said segment atsuch a rate that the linear speed of said pad exceeds the linear speedof said conveyor, said conveyor being arranged to extend substantiallypast said adhesive applying means whereby to continue advancing saidblanks after application of adhesive thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,596,488 Jacquemin Aug. 17, 1926 1,752,608 Olgay Apr. 1l, 19301,808,014 Bergstein June 2, 1931 1,908,291 Goss May 9, 1933 1,969,106Stande Aug. 7, 1934 2,079,668 Swift May 11, 1937 2,191,496 Novck Feb.27, 1940 2,620,711 Lindsay Dec. 9, 1952 2,625,085 Bergstein Ian. 13,1953

